Gulu Varsity Council Dragged To Court Over VC’s Irregular Appointment

Gulu University council has been dragged before the High Court in Gulu on allegations it illegally extended the contract of Prof Jack Nyeko Pen- Mogi, the university’s Vice Chancellor.

In a civil miscellaneous application Number 31 of 2017 filed at High Court, Gulu, Kenneth Nyeko, a former member of the council who represented Gulu District Local Council challenged the resolution of the council dated November 18, 2016. The council resolution in question extended the contractual appointment of Prof Pen- Mogi further by a period of two years effective January 15, 2017.

In his application filed at Gulu High Court on February 25, 2017 before Gulu High Court Deputy Registrar, Henry Twinomuhezi, Nyeko argues that the extension was illegal and should be nullified.

Through his lawyers, Ms M Oyet & Co. Advocates, the application was brought for review under section 36 and 38 of the Judicature Act cap 13, rule 1-8.

Kenneth Nyeko, a former District Councilor V for Ongako Sub County in the Gulu District Local Council has dragged both the University and Prof Pen-Mogi for what he described as irregular re-appointment by both parties.

Addressing the press at the Northern Uganda Media Club on Friday, Nyeko explained that Prof Pen- Mogi was first appointed in 2003 to serve as a substantive Vice Chancellor. According to Nyeko the five year term ended in 2008.

Nyeko adds that when the first five year term elapsed, Prof Pen- Mogi was reappointed and the second term also ended.

He argues that the first respondent (council) has continued to maintain the second respondent (Pen- Mogi) under illegal contractual appointment and extensions to date.

The legal challenge comes just less than four months after Pen- Mogi’s reappointment. The university council recently made a U-turn and re-advertised the position.

Prof Pen-Mogi, whose contract expired on January 15, was reappointed in November last year by the university council members to serve a two- year contract.

Pen-Mogi is the first Vice Chancellor of Gulu University since the institution’s inception in 2002.

According to a copy of court document seen by this reporter, Walter Okidi Ladwar, the lawyer for the University has already been served with a copy of the civil suit.

An attempt to get a comment from Ladwar was futile after he did not answer his known telephone number.

However a stamp dated March 1, 2017, and signed by one Kennedy Otim in acknowledgment of the receipt of the court document on behalf of Ladwar & Co. Advocates.